HERE AND THERE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18644, 22 December 1928, Page 4

HERE AND THERE.

AN EYE FOR EVERYTHING. The Home of the Empress Eugenie. A community of nuns now live in Farnborough Hill, the great, straggling, half-timbered house in which the late Empress Eugenie lived so long. The house, built right among the pines, belonjged to Mr Longman, of the famous publishing family, when, about 1888, the Empress acquired it and greatly enlarged it. Farnborough Hill is cut in two by a narrow gorge, through which run the railway and a road. In the crypt of the Priory Church rest the remains of Napoleon 111., the Prince Imperial, and the Empress. An abbey still functioning flourishes alongside the church. To sanction the founding of Farnborough Abbey was almost the last act of Pope Leo XIII. From 1896 the Benedictine monks were recognised as part of the household of the exEm press, who moved to Farnborough Hill in 1881. On January 9, 1888, the remains of the Emperor and the Prince Imperial were broueht from Chislehurst, amid scenes of great solemnity, to the new mausoleum prepared for them. French monks, an order of White Friars, were allotted the honour of guarding the Imperial bodies. In 1890 the White Friars went away and were seen no more. The Empress then gave the Priory and the church to Benedictine monks of the French congregation from Solesmes Abbey. They have remained at Farnborough. The abbey building includes a quadrangle 100 ft in length, with a massive tower at each corner. Unlike the priory church, no direct view of it can be obtained from any highway. £3OOO Gems in Street. Detectives, uniformed policemen and civilians searched the gutters .and roadways near Leichster Square. London, for scattered gems. The jewels were part of a pearl and diamond necklace, said to be valued at £3000.. belonging to Mrs Somerville, who was one oi the guests at a party given by Mr J. B. Joel (jun ). at a restaurant in Coventry Street. Shortly after midnight. Mrs Somerville was waiting outside the restaurant lor her car, when the porter noticed a girl, passing by. pick up from the pavement a glittering object, lie realised it was a valuable gem. As Mrs Somerville was the only woman standing nearby, he asked her if it belonged to her. and she then discovered that her necklace was missing. After a search several of the gems w ere found lying in the gutter a few yards away, and eventually all were discovered except one peari. This missing pearl is estimated to be worth £SOO. It is believed that Mr.- Somerville's necklace was snatched from he*- as she was leaving the restaurant, and that it snapped in the thief's grasp.